Audio-technic company Harman presents its new documentary "The Distorstion of Sound."

Out on July 11, this documentary features a number of influential persons in music industry talking about the compression of digital formats that damages the quality of music.

"The last fifty years have seen a striking decline in the quality of sound and listening experience," says the official website press-release. "Compressed music, MP3s and streaming, have diminished the quality and flattened the emotion. Marketing gimmicks and convenience now take the place of excellence."

"'The Distortion of Sound' is an eye-opening expose of the current state of sound starring Linkin Park, Slash, Quincy Jones and more.

"This documentary will open your ears and inspire you to reach for richer, more soul-stirring musical experiences."

Well I've noticed that in the past five years that artists are coming out with some of their best records to date (Linkin Park, QOTSA, Black Sabbath, NIN, Daft Punk, Foo Fighters, Muse, etc....) and I think it's just because the writing is good and the albums have a lot going on musically that can't be heard with MP3 files and such. I think that's what this film is about, is just taking the time to actually listen the way the artist would like you to.

Hey - EDM is music, as much as people playing instruments. Just because all you need to do to perform it is press play, doesn't mean its a lesser thing. I know many of the big producers don't deserve all the recognition and all the popular songs are simple, soulless and repetitive, but the real stuff, the more underground stuff if you like, that takes time and skill to make. I used to dabble in it here and there, and I admit, anyone with a bit of technical audio knowledge can make a shitty pop hit without much trouble. But the proper EDM, stuff you can call music, that takes as much skill as guitar does.

Records should, and some already do, come with a free download of the album because as much as I love vinyl, I can't take that shit on the bus or listen to it when I'm walking my dogs. MP3's are good for being able to carry 10,000 songs around in your pocket with, it might not be the same quality of sound, but it's better than nothing. Both have their place, is what I'm trying to say.

I believe that music evolves to the digital age just like visual art. For example, is it better to look at the Mona Lisa up-close or on a 480p screen having it as a background behind your icons? "you don't appreciate the sound like it's meant to," crock of shit if you ask me, better separate music enjoying and music listening. I'd listen to music on a jog on my iPod. However, my record player has the job of making me enjoy it when I sit down.

I just don't hear it. I pop the CD into the Bose system in my car and listen to it at high volumes. If I decide instead to hook up my portable device that is loaded with 320Kbps MP3's and listen to the same songs I don't really hear any audible differences. I can't hear the bass guitar better or more clearly on the CD - the guitar doesn't have more sustain, the drums aren't more profound. I just don't know what this drop in quality everyone is talking about is. The same goes with my home setup - I can load the CD into the computer and blast it through Winamp - or I can just rip the CD and play the digital files - no difference to me. I do understand that Vinyl records sound different, and I do appreciate that - however Vinyls are really inconvenient, and all the songs in my library are just a few keystrokes away.

I can hear differences from medium to medium. A good example for something like this is The Fragile by Nine Inch Nails. Across all mediums, that album is fantastic. But there are so many details in layering, or minor "unimportant" sounds that are glossed over when streaming on Spotify or played via mp3. Play a track like Just Like You Imagined on a really nice set of headphones and there are a plethora of details that are either less prominent or altogether absent in compressed audio like mp3s.

People no longer buy home stereos...they buy a cheap Onkyo surround sound system and are sold on the fact that the subwoofer has a lot of bass.
30 and 40 years ago, floor speakers were very common in people's homes and were considered a piece of furniture.
People also don't realize that listening to a brand new vinyl LP is not the same as listening to a scratchy old Elvis record.